Academy Renews Dawn Hudson's Contract as CEO

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Dawn Hudson

Her new contract will run through 2020.

Dawn Hudson has reupped as CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for another three years. In a message to Academy members, the Academy's board of governors announced Monday that, at its March 28 meeting, it approved a contract extension that will run through June 2020.

"We are confident in Dawn's leadership of the Academy, and fully support her as she leads a strong and dedicated team of more than 350 into our ninth decade," the board statement said. The bulletin to Academy members continued, "We're excited that Dawn will continue the Academy's goals of globalization and inclusion, guide us toward the successful opening of an unprecedented movie museum, and lead us toward next year's 90th Oscars."

Hudson, who oversees the Academy’s day-to-day activities, was selected in 2011 to succeed Bruce Davis, who was retiring as the Academy’s longtime executive director, a post he had held since 1990. In choosing Hudson, then head of Film Independent, the Academy adopted a new executive structure, naming her as CEO and appointing Ric Robertson, who had been serving as the organization’s second-in-command since 1981, as COO. The two operated side by side until September 2013, when Robertson announced he was stepping down.

Hudson’s original contract was renewed in 2014 to run into 2017.

While overseeing the Academy’s staff of more than 350 members, Hudson has made diversifying the Academy and opening up its membership roles one of her top priorities. She has also been involved in the creation and construction of the new Academy Museum, set to open in the old May Company building at Fairfax and Wilshire Boulevards in 2019, with Kerry Brougher as its director.

In her role as CEO, Hudson works in conjunction with the Academy president — who is elected annually by the Academy’s board of governors — a post that is current held by Cheryl Boone Isaacs, a veteran marketing executive.